AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Promote ecumenical pastoral in Particular Churches: one objective of an intensive course on “Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue ” given at the Theological and Pastoral Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) -An intensive course on “Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue” organised by the Theological and Pastoral Institute for Latin America and the Caribbean (ITEPAL) in collaboration with the department for Ecclesial Communion and Dialogue of the Council of Latin American Bishops’ Conferences started on June 7 in Bogota. The four week course is being held at the ITEPAL and will end on 2 July. It has essentially two objectives: present elements necessary to promote ecumenical pastoral in the local Churches and offer an integral vision of ecumenism and interreligious dialogue with special attention for present day challenges and needs.
The course will analyse principal documents of the Magisterium and their pastoral actuation giving particular attention to basic principles for interreligious dialogue, it will study the sects and new religious groups, offer elements to promote ecumenical pastoral in the parish, in catechesis, liturgy, religious instruction and in the society. The themes will be illustrated by four theologians from Chile, Panama and Colombia who will present the contents offering a global, concise and updated vision of the theme. They will also identify problems and challenges which could follow the reflection. (R.Z.)(Agenzia Fides 8/6/2004; Righe 15; Parole 195)